While enterprise software is intended to streamline workflow, boost productivity and help companies operate more efficiently; without giving workers thorough training, most enterprise solutions prove to do the opposite.

In addition to the challenges of integrating changing technology, enterprise solutions can also present roadblocks such as confusing interfaces, elaborate dashboards and complicated communication functions. As a result, to make businesses run more efficiently, the process begins with making knowledge workers better equipped. Noticing the need for an all-in-one tool, serial entrepreneur Sean Nolan developed a tech startup that makes managing information and operations an easier task.

Founded in 2014, Blink is an enterprise solution that helps businesses design agile digital workplaces. Blink adds a layer of efficiency to enterprise powers like Salesforce, Netsuite and ServiceNow by providing companies a suite of features that includes a messaging app, robust search engine, smart bot assistants, and micro-apps. By consolidating the myriad of tools and technology into one connected system, Blink looks to modernize enterprise software by making the technology in the workplace technology as turnkey and seamless as your technology at home.

From smartphone and tablets, to laptops and desktops -- in-home devices are commonly interconnected through a cloud, syncing each device to actively track and transfer information in real-time. The cloud also serves as a hub to organize and store apps, emails, media, contacts and documents. Blink's proprietary software mirrors this framework, giving businesses more flexibility and immediate access to everything they need.

This combination of tools collectively assists in making knowledge workers more productive, which in turn unlocks a new world of opportunity for modern companies.

I spoke with CEO and Founder Sean Nolan about the vision behind his company, designing digital workplaces, and the future of enterprise software.

What was the specific void or opportunity did you discovered that inspired the idea behind Blink?

Sean Nolan: We are so powerful today as technology consumers, but stepping into most workplaces is like stepping back 20 years. It would seem as though we are at peak complexity at work, with the number of applications we use growing daily. However, simple things are still remarkably difficult: finding that document, or an available meeting room. It is difficult to book travel and there are few systems that intelligently alert us about major issues with customers before they happen. Everything is so fragmented. I believe the next shift, and the opportunity in front of us, is one of simplification. We’re changing how people interact with technology at work via bots, voice, messaging apps and personal assistants. People call it Systems of Intelligence or Unifying Interfaces, but it’s really about simplifying. The closest thing to Blink today would be WeChat in Asia, in that it’s a platform that changes the way we interact with technology and how technology is built. We realized you needed a unification layer before you can do the more intelligent things - the move to APIs enables us to build that unification layer inside of a compelling messaging app.

What are the specific features Blink offers that make it unique from other enterprise software solutions?

Sean Nolan: Blink becomes a single ‘super-app’ for work. It’s simply a Digital Workplace in one app. Some people are talking about messaging being the new browser, and in many ways this is true. For enterprises, our simple approach to bots and micro-apps (web apps that live inside of messaging) means it’s easy and fast to build digital-first experiences. One of the unique things about Blink is our central user directory that makes us the first workplace-messaging app that can truly replace SMS or email. You can connect to your entire professional contact list in one place, inside or outside of your company. We also have an amazing compliance stack. We really wanted compliance to be a first-class citizen, not an afterthought or add-on. So it has a beautiful interface, it’s real-time, and it’s powerful for searching, setting up pro-active alerts, and self-governance.

How does Blink make enterprise software less complicated and operate more efficiently?

Sean Nolan: Micro-apps are incredibly fast and an easy way to deliver mobile-first, desktop enabled enterprise apps. They use commodity technology, but can benefit from the fact that Blink is connected to all of your apps. It is secure and authenticated. Let’s say you want to build a new starter app for people’s first month at your company. But, to work really well, it needs to sync with your finance, HR, IT, room booking, and calendars – pulling data from each. Today, that’s really difficult to build. But, as a micro-app (or bot) inside of Blink, it’s very simple. We believe micro-apps are the future of enterprise software, because they are so much easier and faster to build, enabling every team to build apps that solve their problems.

One mission of your company is to make office technology function much like the tech in your home — Describe what you mean and how Blink brings that vision to life?

Sean Nolan: It is puzzling that our lives at home are so saturated with helpful technologies, but our work lives are almost void of them. At home, you can order food from your phone, search for nearly any kind of information, message your acquaintances across a variety of mediums, and use a voice command assistant to help you manage your life. All of those functions make life more efficient and allow you to accomplish more. Work should not be a place where we go back in time two decades and find ourselves wasting hours trying to perform tasks that can be completed almost instantly with modern technology. Blink comes out of the box with a chat bot for your company. It’s like your Office Manager meets your Intranet. Anyone can set it up via a simple wizard and it helps with things like office locations, key documents, announcements, and video messages.

What do you believe are the biggest mistakes made when developing enterprise software and what has kept developers from turning to more efficient solutions?

Sean Nolan: It’s a combination of things. Historically, one of the hardest things has been getting separate systems to talk with each other. Then, when you add on the security challenges and historic separation between ‘IT’ and ‘the business’, the challenges just compound. Apps were also hard to update with very long lead times on changes. Today, teams are taking the power away from IT and selecting their own technology tools. In many ways this is great, but it’s also leading to this concept of peak complexity – there have never been so many different apps in-use inside a workplace. Today, it’s the combination of flexible APIs, powerful browser-based apps, and agile development teams embedded across the business -- plus a more informed (and demanding) user population. We’ve reached a critical tipping point.

How do you see Blink evolving over the next 3-5 years and how do you see your company defining the future of the industry

Sean Nolan: We’re initially focused on industries with a high compliance overhead; we believe if Blink is the universal interface to work, we can also offer some smart solutions around compliance, because we see everything happening across many apps. Bringing together communications, data and workflow in one place will mean Blink becomes an integral part of everyone’s day. It will be the first app you open in the morning, and over time, Blink will get to know you so it can prioritize items, summarize data and hide noise from you. Ultimately, we want Blink to allow you to get more done in less time, so you can get on with whatever matters most to you.

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